Celebrating 100 Years of Law: 1923-2023

11 December 2023

Author: Alex Nicol - Our People

On Friday, 1st December 2023, Aitken Partners celebrated a remarkable milestone, 100 years of law. For a hundred years, we have stood by our clients as their trusted legal partners, fostering enduring relationships built on trust, respect, and unwavering support.

An extract from Managing Principal, Alex Nicol’s speech at the Centenary function on Friday, 1st December 2023.

“100 years is an impressive milestone for any business, and one which we do not take lightly. A century of dedicated service and commitment to our clients, and while our motto of “Legal Partners for Life” is a recent addition to our branding it is a credo that has long stood at the heart of the firm’s operations. This motto represents the heart and soul of our firm, embodying our enduring commitment to our clients, our team, and our community. For a hundred years, we have stood by our clients as their trusted legal partners, fostering enduring relationships built on trust, respect, and unwavering support. It is this motto that has propelled us through the decades, and it is this motto that will continue to steer us into the future.

Aitken Partners was founded as Aitken Walker & Strachan in 1923 by Philip Aitken, Harold Walker and Ford Strachan. Philip Aitken was the father of 2nd generation partners Bob and Philip Aitken, uncle of Ford Strachan and grandfather of Robert Davey who is still with the firm today. The clientele of the newly formed AWS was made up of the Western District and Riverina pastoral families, many of whom have remained clients of the firm over the course of several generations.

Our values, deeply rooted in respecting the past and the relationships that have helped us get to where we are today, have been our compass on this century-long journey. We've built a legacy based on principles that are focussed on delivering excellent legal services but doing so with a human centric focus that I believe to be quite unique in our profession. As we look back at our firm's history, we can't help but marvel at the accomplishments and the milestones we have achieved together. We have represented countless clients, from individuals seeking to buy their first home or start their first business, to people negotiating the disputes that life throws at you whether that be within the family unit or in business, to acting on complex acquisitions, restructuring or insolvency matters.

And now we must look to the future. The legal profession is changing rapidly, driven by technological advancements, shifting societal norms, and a world that is more interconnected than ever before.

We must be prepared to adapt and innovate, while staying true to the core values that have defined us. Our commitment to excellence, and a personalised approach to our clients will remain unchanged – and in fact we think gives us an edge in the advances in technology only make the human element that much more important.

We have already embarked on this journey to the future, and we are investing in new technologies and approaches that will enhance our services and better serve our clients. We are embracing diversity and inclusion, recognising the strength that comes from a team with varied perspectives and backgrounds. We will continue to be at the forefront of change, setting the standards for the legal profession for another century.

We celebrate not just a century of legal excellence but a century of being "Legal Partners for Life." Our motto encapsulates the essence of who we are, who we have been, and who we aspire to be in the future. We respect our past, embrace the challenges of the future, and stand together as a testament to the enduring power of legal partnership.”